10 Effective Home Remedies For Bleeding Gums

Picture this – you are brushing your teeth, and when you spit out the toothpaste, you notice a hint of blood in the sink. You are not only horrified to see it but are now afraid to flash those pearly whites. Well, that shouldn’t be a problem anymore. We have some perfect remedies and tips that can help you combat this embarrassing condition naturally. Keep reading.

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What Causes Bleeding Gums?

Bleeding gums are the first and foremost signs of a gum disease. They can also be caused due to other factors that are discussed below:

Gingivitis: If you do not maintain good oral hygiene, plaques can form on your gum line. The accumulation of these plaques can cause gingivitis, which, in turn, can lead to inflammation and bleeding of your gums.

Periodontitis: When gingivitis is left untreated, and it continues to an advanced stage, it is referred to as periodontitis or periodontal disease. This leads to infection of your gums and jaw and can also cause your teeth to loosen and fall out.

Vitamin C and K deficiencies

Individual wearing dentures may also experience bleeding gums.

The hormonal changes during pregnancy are another cause of bleeding gums.

Medical conditions like hemophilia and leukemia can also be an underlying cause of bleeding gums.

Since bleeding gums can also be a result of a serious underlying condition, they should not be disregarded. This condition is usually painless and hence very difficult to identify. However, if you notice the onset of any of the following symptoms other than the obvious bleeding, it is a strong indication that you have developed this condition.

If you notice any of these symptoms, there is a high chance that you have bleeding gums. In such an instance, the first thing you need to do is maintain good oral hygiene and get rid of the plaques that are causing your gums to bleed. Mentioned below are some natural remedies that can help heal your bleeding gums and make them stronger and healthier.

Best Remedies To Treat Bleeding Gums Naturally

1. Coconut Oil

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You Will Need

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Swish coconut oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Coconut oil, with its natural healing properties, is a great option for treating bleeding gums. The anti-inflammatory nature of coconut oil can reduce inflammation in your gums, while its antimicrobial properties can help fight the plaque in your mouth (1), (2), (3).

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Do this twice daily.

Why This Works

Tea tree oil has powerful antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, which can treat infections that cause bleeding gums. It is also anti-inflammatory and can hence be used to reduce the inflammation and swelling of your gums (4), (5).

2. Clove Oil

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You Will Need

2 drops of clove oil

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Mix clove oil with coconut oil.

Apply this blend directly to your bleeding gums.

Leave it on for 5-10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Clove oil contains phenolic compounds like eugenol, which imparts anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties to it (6), (7). Additionally, clove oil is also a natural analgesic. These properties are highly effective in treating bleeding gums and gingivitis (8), (9).

4. Vitamins

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As we have already discussed, bleeding gums can also be a result of vitamin C and vitamin K deficiencies. Hence, you must increase your intake of foods rich in these vitamins like citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, berries, peas, sprouts, fish, meat, and eggs. Also, consult your doctor to check for deficiencies in any of these vitamins before taking additional supplements for the same.

6. Honey

You Will Need

Honey

What You Have To Do

Take a little honey on your fingertips and massage it gently on your gums.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this at least twice daily.

Why This Works

Honey is antibacterial and is a proven remedy against bacterial infections like gingivitis that cause your gums to bleed (12). It also possesses exceptional healing and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the inflammation and swelling of your gums (13), (14).

8. Milk

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You Will Need

1 cup of warm milk

What You Have To Do

Drink a cup of warm milk whenever your gums begin to bleed.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once or twice daily.

Why This Works

Milk contains high amounts of calcium and vitamin K, which can strengthen your gums and stop bleeding. The anti-inflammatory nature of milk is also helpful in reducing and soothing the inflammation caused by the condition (17), (18), (19).

Caution

Brush your teeth after consuming milk to avoid the formation of plaques.

9. Cayenne Powder

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Wet your toothbrush and add a pinch of cayenne pepper to it.

Brush your teeth.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Cayenne pepper is a rich source of a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin has exceptional pain-relieving properties and also helps reduce the inflammation and swelling of the gums (20). It is also antibacterial and can hence treat microbial infections that cause your gums to bleed (21).

10. Cranberry Juice

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You Will Need

1 cup of unsweetened cranberry juice

What You Have To Do

Drink a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily.

Why This Works

Cranberry juice contains compounds like anthocyanins and phenolic acids that exhibit anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (22). This makes cranberry juice one of the best and easiest options for treating bleeding gums (23), (24).

11. Lemon Juice

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this daily, after every meal.

Why This Works

Lemons are used for various purposes due to their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. While the antibacterial nature of lemons can combat bacterial infections that cause your gums to become weak and bleed, their anti-inflammatory properties can be helpful in healing the swelling and bleeding (25), (26).

12. Oil Pulling

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of sesame oil or coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Swish sesame or coconut oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this once daily.

Why This Works

Oil pulling is good for your oral health. It helps fight infections like gingivitis and periodontitis that cause your gums to bleed (27), (28). It also produces antioxidants that are capable of destroying the microbes in your mouth. The most commonly used oils for oil pulling are coconut oil and sesame oil due to their exceptional antimicrobial properties.

14. Ginger

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Grate a ginger and squeeze its juice.

Gently massage the ginger extract into your gums.

Leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 1-2 times daily.

Why This Works

Ginger contains a compound called gingerol that is known to exhibit exceptional anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties (31), (32), (33). These can help heal inflamed gums and simultaneously treat the infections that cause them to bleed.

15. Aloe Vera

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Take some aloe vera gel on your fingertips and gently apply it to the bleeding gums.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this 2-3 times daily.

Why This Works

Aloe vera is well known for its healing properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce the inflammation and bleeding, and its antibacterial properties are proven to be effective against oral pathogens that cause gum diseases like gingivitis (34), (35), (36).

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times a day, preferably after meals.

Why This Works

Baking soda possesses antibacterial properties that can kill the bacteria that cause your gums to bleed (37). It can also balance the pH in your mouth and helps remove plaques and stains on your teeth (38), (39).

19. Neem

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Alternatively, you can also use toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain neem as a major ingredient.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this on a daily basis, preferably after every meal.

Why This Works

Neem leaves have been used for centuries for their healing and medicinal properties (43). They possess antimicrobial properties that can help in combating bacterial and fungal infections that cause plaques and bleeding gums (44), (45). They also have anti-inflammatory properties and can help in the treatment of irritated and inflamed gums (46).

20. Apple Cider Vinegar

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Mix the apple cider vinegar with warm water.

Use this solution to rinse your mouth.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this at least once daily.

Why This Works

Apple cider vinegar is a natural antimicrobial agent that can combat infections that cause bleeding gums. Acetic acid is the major component of apple cider vinegar, and it exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve inflammation and swelling in the gums (47), (48).

These remedies will be all the more effective if you use them and follow a few preventive tips as well. Given below are some tips that will not only prevent your gums from bleeding in the future but also ensure that you follow a good oral hygiene routine.

Tips To Prevent Bleeding Gums

Brush your teeth twice daily, preferably after your meals.

Use a soft or medium bristled brush to brush your teeth.

Do not brush too harshly because it may damage the soft tissues of your gums.

Floss daily to remove the plaques between your teeth.

Apply a cold compress to the bleeding gums to prevent further bleeding.

Most cases of bleeding gums can be combated easily with proper care and treatment. That is, unless the condition is caused by some underlying disease. If your gums do not heal even after days of treatment, it is best to consult your doctor to rule out complications. Go ahead and use the above remedies to overcome bleeding gums naturally. Do let us know which ones worked for you in the comments section below.

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

A good antimicrobial mouthwash can reverse the effects of gingivitis and hence can also prevent inflamed and bleeding gums.

Why are my gums bleeding while brushing?

Gingivitis or accumulation of plaque on your gums often results in bleeding gums while brushing.

Why do gums bleed during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, your body undergoes many hormonal changes, which can cause your gums to bleed.

When to visit a dentist for bleeding gums?

If your gums continue to bleed despite treatments, it is best to consult a dentist to find out if you are suffering from some underlying medical condition.

Are bleeding gums dangerous?

Bleeding gums may sometimes be a symptom of a more serious disease like cancer or hemophilia and can prove to be dangerous in such situations. Also, if plaques are left untreated for too long, your oral health may deteriorate to such an extent that your teeth begin to fall out.